MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Manly Sea Eagles on the back foot with Daly Cherry-Evans set to leave NRL club

I remember a rugby league reporter telling me a ripper Cliff Lyons story from back in the day.

Manly was playing a big game on the Saturday and the scribe from the local paper rocked up at the leagues club the day before to interview the maestro.

“I walk into the leagues club and there’s Cliffy walking towards the pokies room,” the journo told me.

“He’s got a cup of coins in one hand, bucket of hot chips in the other and a ciggie between his lips.

“Twenty-four hours later he lays on three tries and Manly win by 20.”

They don’t make ‘em like Cliffy anymore.

He may not have treated his body like a temple between games, but he played until he was 38 and still claims he could have lasted into his 40s.

Actually he did last into his 40s, playing park footy for several years after leaving the NRL.

Steve Menzies was another who defied old father time.

Beaver was still running around in France after blowing out 40 candles on the birthday cake.

We used to joke that the reason he remained so youthful was because he never had to take a hit-up.

I thought of my old Sea Eagles teammate this week as speculation raged about Daly Cherry-Evans’ future.

The Manly skipper will be 37 at the start of next season and there’s suggestions Manly may pension him off.

Why? Just because the date of birth on his birth certificate reads 1989.

Tonight news broke that Cherry-Evans is set to tell the club he will play on next year just not at Brookvale Oval.

That sent the footy world into spin with Manly then telling the gang on NRL 360 live on air they would now give Cherry-Evans a two-year deal instead of just one as had been reported up until now.

Some players go on a year or two too long, unable to pull the plug because they cherish the coin or simply love the game to death.

I got out at 32 due to a toe injury and spent the next four years in purgatory.

I’d dream about tackling blokes or carting one last kick-off return.

I’d walk down the streets of Sydney imagining city workers as defenders I had to try and beat.

Russell Crowe enticed me out of retirement at age 36, inviting me to play in a game for his local team up near Coffs Harbour.

As funny as it sounds, that game allowed me to put a full stop on my career, both mentally and physically.

I knew at that stage I was done with playing rugby league.

Cherry-Evans isn’t.

There is absolutely nothing I’ve seen in DCE’s game that suggests to me he’s not up to it anymore.

Just watch the way he orchestrated that win over Canberra on Sunday night.

In fact, I reckon he’s got two more years in him.

He’s durable, his body is in great shape and he has the best minds in modern sports science to call on to ensure he remains in peak condition.

And, most importantly, his love and hunger for the game remains as strong as ever.

He might even go around in the Origin arena again this year.

I don’t see any sign off drop off in intensity.

No one person is bigger or more important that the club, but I think Manly owe it to “Chez” to let him dictate terms to a certain extent.

There will be a financial haircut if he stays, and that’s fair enough.

But if he wants two more years, give it to him.

The Sea Eagles have a heap of good young halves coming through the ranks and they will learn so much more from having someone like Cherry-Evans guiding them through the final stages of their apprenticeship.

It’s a win-win from where I stand.

What I don’t want to see is Cherry-Evans playing his final year or two at another club.

He must finish a one club player.

Make it happen, Manly.